Product Biography Information System: A Lifecycle Approach to Digital Twins

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of product biography information system (PBIS). The findings emerge from a design science research project conducted in a paper pulp company integrating the PSI-20 stock market index of Euronext Lisbon. The results include a reference architecture and design principles for the development of PBIS supported by blockchain and multiple generations of digital twins. For theory, PBIS offers an extension to product lifecycle management, ensuring that products lives are memorized in its sociomaterial context of production, logistics, and use. For practice, we show how organizations can design new enterprise systems that capture complex product biographies taking advantage of Industry 4.0. The findings are relevant for the innovation of product-service systems that adhere to the emerging challenges of sustainable development and traceability.